Z Combinator for Hacker News vs command_line
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Z Combinator for Hacker News
An open-source client for browsing Hacker News. It offers a straightforward way to access news and discussions from the popular tech community.
- Hacker News client
- Open source
- News aggregation
- Discussion access
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Just another open source Hacker News client.
command_line
A fast, terminal-style client for reading and participating in Hacker News discussions. Offers a focused interface with features like offline caching and story saving. Premium unlocks account actions and advanced tools for deeper engagement.
- Terminal-inspired interface
- Browse all story types
- Threaded comment discussions
- Search Hacker News
- Save stories with bookmarks
- Offline caching
- Account sign-in and participation
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command_line is a fast, terminal-style Hacker News client built for readers who want speed, focus, and real participation. Browse top stories, new stories, best stories, Ask HN, Show HN, jobs, polls, profiles, and full discussion threads in a clean mobile experience designed to feel quick, dense, and intentional. Unlike many read-only Hacker News apps, command_line is built for both reading and doing. Free users can browse and read comfortably, while premium unlocks account-based actions and power-user tools. FREE FEATURES • Read Hacker News with a fast, terminal-inspired interface • Browse Top, New, Best, Ask HN, Show HN, Jobs, and Polls • Open full story discussions with threaded comments • Search Hacker News stories and discussions • Save stories with bookmarks for later • Use offline-friendly caching for faster repeat visits • View user profiles and activity • Enjoy a focused dark interface designed for mobile reading PREMIUM FEATURES • Sign in to your Hacker News account • Upvote stories and comments • Reply to discussions • Submit posts • Manage your account session from the app • Access RSS tools and advanced power-user features WHY command_line Most Hacker News clients feel outdated, slow, or limited. command_line was rebuilt to feel fast on every revisit, not just the first load. It combines quick browsing, cached reading, dense threaded discussions, and a terminal-style design that stands out from generic news apps. Whether you just want a better way to read Hacker News on mobile or a premium tool for participating in the community, command_line is built to help you move through the news quickly and stay close to the conversation. SUBSCRIPTION / PURCHASE INFO Premium is available as an optional monthly, yearly, or lifetime upgrade. Reading remains free. Premium unlocks account actions and advanced features such as sign-in, voting, replying, posting, and RSS tools. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime in your App Store account settings.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Z Combinator for Hacker News at none against command_line's 3. Z Combinator for Hacker News also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 15 months). command_line's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. command_line sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Z Combinator for Hacker News asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Z Combinator for Hacker News against 5.0 for command_line. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.
Z Combinator for Hacker News ships an update every 3 weeks, command_line every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and July 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Z Combinator for Hacker News | command_line |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 15 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 39 MB |
| Age rating | +17 | 9+ |
| Developer | Jiaqi Feng | Daniel Shaw |
Customer experience
Z Combinator for Hacker News
command_line
In-app purchases
Z Combinator for Hacker News
No in-app purchases
command_line
- Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
- Premium Yearly$39.991 Year
- Premium Lifetime$99.99
Questions
Is Z Combinator for Hacker News free?
Is command_line free?
Which has better reviews, Z Combinator for Hacker News or command_line?
Do Z Combinator for Hacker News or command_line have ads?
Which is updated more often, Z Combinator for Hacker News or command_line?
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